The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-05-21
THE AMISH.
Two Stories About Peculiar Sect in In J.
terror Pennsylvania.
Pitts5urg Dispatch.

Pitts6WrJ Dispatch.
In one of the counties in the southern part of
the State and bordering on Maryland, the Amish
are especially numerous. In that county lives
prominent member of the church whom we will
the richest man in all that section. He never
wore a coat with buttons in his life, and for
ornaments, he never had so much as paper collar
He is a large owner of railroad stock and looks
sharply after his interests.
A few years ago there was a big meeting of rail-
road magnates in Philadelphia, and Rinehart was
present. At the banquet which followed the meet
ing some of the railroaders thought they would
have some fun with their backwoods visitor, whose
strange dress mado him particularly conspicuous.
Accordingly they gave the old man place at the
head of the table and asked him to do the honors
of the occasion. There was turkey to carve,
and Rinehart asked if they had any objections to
his doing the job in country style.
Country style, by all means that will suit US
BEST" was the reply. The old gentleman selected
the choicest part of the meat, heaped up plate
most plentifuly, then replacing the carving knife
resumed his seat and commenced eating, volun-
teering the information "Country style
every man TO help himself.
Another class of religious enthusiasts are the
we'll known Dunkards, or German Baptists. They
eschew ornaments and style, but not to the extent
LQaL C16 AmlSu 40. OUueTScL county, III Jnl5 oltte
is said to contain more Dunkards than any terri
tory of similar extent anywhere in the world
These people call themselves Brethren and SEEM
ingy their lives render the name appropriate
Formerly they took part in politics, but of late
years some of the more progressive have become
quite active politicians. few years ago, while
in Somerset county, the writer heard of q very
successful ruse adopted by candidate for some
country office to secure the support ofthese people,
After the usual style of office seekers, the gen.
tleman started out on an electioneering tour, de-
termned to visit the Dunkard settlements and
court the favor of the Brethren. On his way he
met friend, an influential farmer, who asked
him where he going. On receiving reply
the farmer exclaimed:
"Well, I'll guarantee you don't get dozen
votes from those people if you go there as you are
now. Don't you know how much they are against
style? Let me fix you up, then you go among
them and your work might amount to something.
You must take off your tall hat, your gold chain
and your fine shoes and coat. Put on an old
SLOUGH hat of mine a pair of cow hide boots and
an old coat, and tie cotton handkerchief around
your neck"
The candidate had the good sense to see that
the advice of his farmer friend was sound, and
accompanied him to his home, where he was ar
rayed in the habiliments of rustic. He then
made the rounds of the Dunkard neighborhoods,
and when the votes from that seceion of the coun-
ty were reckoned up, it was found that he was far
ahead of all his competitors. He was elected and
it was the borrowed clothing that did it,